Ball joint



Jan. 1, 1929.

A. A. WlTZ BALL JOINT Filed June 29, 1925 fiber? INVINM.

A'TFORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALBERT A. wrrz, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BALL JOINT.

Application filed June 29,

This invention relates to a ball joint and has for its primary objectthe constructlon of a ball joint that may be readily ad usted to any ofits required positions but at the same time preventing movement of theball in a direction that will subject electric wires to an unnecessarywearing action.

An object of the invention is that wlth the 4 I connection between thesocket and ball the With these and other objects in view, the

invention will be better understood from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a ball joint constructed in accordancewith my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fi i I ig. 3 is an enlargedside elevation showing certain parts in section.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view. i

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 .of Fig. 4.

Again referring to the drawings illustrating one of the manyconstructions of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a socket memberwhile the numeral 2 designates a ball member. lhe socket member 1comprises the usual male member 2 and female member or collar 3screwthreaded thereto. The male member 1 is providedwith the shoulder atupon which rests a s ring-5 that yieldingly en gages the rin 6 at inturn frictionally engages the bal 7 of the ball. member. The ring 6engages the ball to one side of its center while the female member 3 enages the ball on the opposite side so that t eball is frictionally heldto turn in any direction.

For the purpose of preventing complete rotation of the ball so as toprevent twisting of the wires or undue wearing thereof I provide in oneconstruction of my invention a pin 8 se-- 1925. Serial No. 40,467.

cured in the female member and'engaging into a recess or groove 9 in theball in a manner that the ball is revented from completely turning inthe socket but is free to be adjusted in any direction necessary toproperly posi- {)ion the electric socket that is carried by the all.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown another manner of limiting the movementof the ball. In this particular case a tongue 10 is struck from theinwardly projecting flange of the female member to be positioned in therecess 11 of the ball 12.

It is, of course, to be understood that the various parts may beconstructed in various other wafys than illustrated and various otherforms 0 connections may be arrauged'between the ball and socket as themain purpose of my invention is to limit the movement of the ball in apredetermined direction and therefore Ido not desire to be limited inany manner except as set forth in the claims hereuntoappended. Havingthus described my invention, what I claim is:

'1. In a b her, a retaining collar secured on the socket member andhaving an inwardly projecting retaining flange, a ring slidably mountedin the socket member at the end thereof adjacent said collar, anexpansion sprin confined be tween the ring andthe other en of the socketmember, said spring urging the ring toward" the flange of the'collar,and a ball member seating 1n the ring and confined between the ring andthe collar of the flange, the ball mem her having a groove in its outersurfaceand the flange of the collar being struck down to form an elementprojecting into said groove.

2. A ball joint including a male and female member, the male memberbeing provided with a groove, a ring providing a seat for the malemember, a collar on the female member providing a flangeco-operatingwith the ring for movably retaining the male member thefemale member, said flange having a projecting portion thereon directedinto the groove for limiting movement in one direc tion between the maleand female member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature ALBERT A. wrrz.

all and soc-ket joint, 2. socket memi

